Multi-part golf cup

ABSTRACT

A multi-part liner for a golf hole comprised of a component visible to a golfer, an interior transverse component which can support a golf ball and a sleeve component depending from the transverse component which can support a golf flag pin in an upright position. It is further characterized in that the components may be made from different materials and are removably mounted with respect to each for replacement of worn or abused components.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to liners for golf holes that meet professional golf regulations, that provide for adequate drainage, that support a flag stick in a vertical position, that keep the soil surrounding the hole from collapsing inwardly, that are easily seen and, more particularly, the invention relates to golf hole liners that best meet and extend these requirements through the use of a plurality of materials and interchangeable parts.

[0003] 2. A Golf Hole Liner Defined.

[0004] A golf hole liner (or sometimes “golf cup”) is defined in the Specification and claims (unless expressly indicated to the contrary) as comprising:

[0005] a. A hollow, open ended, cylindrical housing.

[0006] b. A transverse member (or sometimes “golf ball support”) located at a mid point in the cylindrical housing to support golf balls when they are putted into the liner. The transverse member is conventionally shaped in the form of an open ended inverted truncated cone and is secured at its larger diameter to the interior wall of the housing and divides the housing into an upper and a lower chamber. Drainage slots are spaced around the golf ball support to permit water to drain from the upper chamber of the liner into the lower chamber of the liner and into the soil below.

[0007] c. A downwardly directed, coaxially aligned cylindrical sleeve depending from the smaller diameter of the truncated cone. The sleeve is configured to receive the lower end of a flag pole and maintain the flag pole in an upright position.

[0008] 3. Discussion of the Prior Art

[0009] The golf cup is an essential item in the game of golf. It receives a golf ball at the end of play on any given hole and it supports a flag pole which marks the location of the golf cup so it can be seen from a distance. When a golfer sinks a putt, the ball is removed from the cup for future play.

[0010] Golf cups in common use are monolithic metal castings. Unless polished or painted, the castings are without much luster or shine and provide little visual help in sighting the golf hole. It is the practice of some greens keepers to paint the inner wall of the upper portion of the cup liner with white paint to make the hole more visible from a distance. Repetitive removals and insertions of the flag pole wear or chip the paint away. The abraded portions of the liner may rust, spoil the appearance of the liner and reduce the visibility of the cup.

[0011] Golf cups are less commonly made of molded plastics, which, when pigmented, can be white, bright and highly visible. Plastic golf cups retain a white appearance even when scratched or gouged if the white pigmentation is dispersed throughout the plastic.

[0012] Plastic liners are, however, softer than metal ones and are more vulnerable to wear and abuse. Of particular concern is the wear of the sleeve that holds the flag pole. Since greens are made from a rich soil and a sandy base, the sleeve is exposed to abrasion and wear each time the flag stick is inserted or withdrawn from the sleeve. If the sleeve becomes unduly worn, the flag pole may not be supported in an upright position, it may lean to one side and, on windy days, it may even be blown over.

[0013] Plastic golf hole liners are not as heavy as are metal liners. Some common plastics even float on water. Since a green is made from a rich loam and sand, lighter plastic golf liners may be dislodged or misaligned more readily than metal liners when the flag pole is inserted or removed from the cup.

[0014] In current practice, when the upper chamber wall of a liner is defaced or the sleeve holding the flag stick becomes worn, the liner is discarded and replaced with a new one. Depending on how hard a golf course is played and the pride of the greens keeper, a liner may be replaced upwards of three or four times during a season.

[0015] Golfers, much like bowlers who become accustomed to the sound of pin action, respond to a characteristic metallic “ping” when their golf ball falls into the liner. If instead, they hear a soft, dull thud as their ball drops into a plastic liner, they miss some of the sensual pleasure otherwise experienced when they sink a putt. Despite the advantages inherent in the use of plastic liners, greens keepers may be reluctant to use them because of this failing.

[0016] Golf cup liners have sometimes been made in two parts: the first being a cylindrical housing and the second being an internal spider located vertically at a midpoint in the housing. The spider has a central hub adapted to receive the lower end of the golf flag. A construction of this is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,943,610.

[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,162 illustrates the use of a brightly colored plastic collar to enhance the visibility of the golf cup. The plastic collar is removably mounted adjacent the upper rim of the golf cup liner.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,044 discloses the use of a flexible insert that can be snapped into an indentation in the inner wall of the upper visible portion of a golf cup liner. The insert carries indicia which can be used for advertising purposes.

[0019] These prior art devices are made from two distinct, detachable elements. But none of them combine the features of the instant invention in which the properties of plastic and metal parts are utilized to maximum advantage and are assembled in a manner that provides a golf cup liner that is attractive to the eye, that has good visibility, that responds with a metallic sound when a golf ball falls into the liner, that enables the replacement of worn or defaced parts and extends the useful life of the golf cup liner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0020] It is the principal object of this invention to provide a golf hole liner that has an extended useful life.

[0021] A further object is to make a golf hole liner that is more visible and attractive to golfers.

[0022] Another object of the invention is to make the visible side walls of a golf liner from a pigmented material.

[0023] Another object is to provide a golf hole liner that, when made from plastic elements, will respond with a characteristic metallic “ping” when a golf ball is holed out.

[0024] Yet another object of the invention is to provide a golf liner in which at least the flag pole sleeve is made from a wear resistant material which can be replaced when worn.

[0025] Another object of this invention is to make a golf liner with interchangeable parts that may be separately replaced when they are worn.

[0026] Another object of this invention is to provide a golf hole liner that has sufficient mass to resist displacement from its desired position under ordinary conditions of use.

[0027] These and other objects of this invention are achieved by making golf liners from a plurality of materials that are selected for their characteristic properties and so improve the overall performance and useful life of a golf cup liner. To achieve these objectives, a preferred construction of a golf hole liner made in accordance with this invention may be summarized as follows.

[0028] 1. A monolithic structure, made either from metal or a pigmented plastic, is configured into a hollow, open ended, cylindrical housing . If the housing is made from metal, a pigmented plastic liner is inserted into the interior of the upper chamber for visual and cosmetic purposes. A liner may be made, for example, from an extruded plastic cylinder or a sheet of a resilient plastic rolled into a cylinder to fit snugly against the inner wall of the upper chamber.

[0029] 2. The transverse member or golf ball support is molded as an integral part of the cylindrical housing. One of the novel features of my invention pertains to the inclusion of a metal insert on the upper surface of the transverse member when the transverse member is made from a plastic. The metal insert, such a small plate of brass, may be molded into the surface of the transverse member or it may be removably mounted on the transverse member and held in place with a fastening device such as by spring bias. A secondary benefit that is obtained through the use of a brass insert is that it takes on a distinctive appearance the more it is used. The repeated impact of the end of the flag stick inserted in the golf cup results in a dimpled, irregular surface that randomly reflects light in an attractive manner.

[0030] 3. The cylindrical sleeve flag support is made of a wear resistant metal that can withstand the repetitive insertion and removal of the flag stick. The sleeve is held in axial alignment with the vertical center line of the golf ball holder by a spider whose legs extend from the sleeve radially outward and seat against the sidewall of the lower chamber of the golf cup liner. Vertical channels are provided in the inner wall of the lower chamber which are configured to accept the tips of the spider's legs. The spider may be held in the channels by means of a press or shrink fit, by fastening devices that pass through the side wall of the lower chamber or by spring bias means.

[0031] The above described elements of a golf cup liner provide for an attractive golf cup liner with an extended useful life due to the interchangeability of the various elements of the liner and the materials from which they are made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The invention can better be understood from the following description of the invention in which:

[0033]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the golf liner.

[0034]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

[0035]FIG. 3 is a view in plan of the spider showing the sleeve for the flag stick.

[0036]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an assembly of the golf cup liner illustrating a spring mechanism for securing a metal plate against the golf ball support.

[0037]FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the liner showing screw means for securing the spider within the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The same numerals are used to identify the similar parts in all of the FIGS.

[0039] The golf cup liner 10 is a hollow open ended cylinder divided into an upper chamber 12 and a lower chamber 14. The upper chamber 12 has an inner wall 13 and an outer wall 15, as does the lower chamber 14. The upper member 12 and the lower member 14 are separated by a generally transverse member 18, here illustrated as an open ended inverted truncated cone that can support a golf ball putted into the golf cup liner 10. Drainage holes 8 are provided in the transverse member 18 to prevent water from accumulating in the upper chamber 12.

[0040] There is a hole 4 in the center of the transverse member 18. The hole is aligned with the central passage 7 (see FIG. 3) in the flag support spider 2 which contains the sleeve 5 into which the flag pole (not shown) is inserted and held in an erect position.

[0041] As best illustrated in FIG. 3 the spider sleeve support 2 is star shaped like with three legs 6. The legs 6 of the spider 2 are dimensioned to fit snugly within the slots 22 in the lower chamber 14 of the golf cup liner 10. As can be seen in FIG. 2 elongated slots 22 (only one is visible) are provided in the wall of the lower chamber 14 to receive the legs 6 of the spider 2. The spider 2 is seated in the lower chamber 14 of the liner 10. It can be understood that each of the legs 6 of the spider 2 engages a slot 22.

[0042] The spider 2 can be press or shrink fit in the slots 22 of the lower chamber. As an alternative, to make it easier to separate the spider 2 from the slots 22 without damage to the golf hole liner 10, screws 28 may be advanced through the side wall of lower chamber 14 as is illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0043] When the cylindrical housing and the golf ball support are molded as a single part from a plastic, the golf ball support will not produce a sound that golfers expect when they hole out. It has been found that this can be remedied by securing a metal plate 30, such as of brass, on or countersunk into the top surface of the golf ball support 18. The metal plate 30 will produce a characteristic metallic “clink” when it is struck by a golf ball falling into the cup.

[0044] The metal plate 30 may be integrally included in the transverse plate 18, for example, as an investment casting. Alternatively, the metal plate 30 can be removably mounted on the transverse member 18. A method of doing this is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 wherein a one end 26 a of a spring 24 is used to secure the plate 30 to the upper surface of the transverse member 18 and the other end 26 b of the spring 24 is hooked over the lower end of the golf flag support 2.

[0045] The invention as shown and described permits a greens keeper to change worn parts of the golf liner 10 when the parts become worn or defaced. For example the golf flag support sleeve 2, when worn, can easily be replaced with a new one. The sleeve 2 is removed by sliding it out of the slots 22 and a new one is inserted. As disclosed above, the sleeve 2 may be secured in the slots 22 by a friction fit, by one or more fastening devices such as screws 28 or by means of a spring device 24.

[0046] If the interior wall 13 of the upper chamber 12 is made of metal, a cylinder or a sheet of pigmented plastic 17 may be rolled into a coil, inserted into the upper chamber 12 and permitted to unwind to fit securely against the side wall 13 of the upper chamber 12. If and when the plastic cylinder 17 shows signs of abuse and wear, it easily can be replaced with a new cylinder or coil 17 Similarly, if the metal insert 30 is damaged and needs replacement, simple maneuvering of the spring fastener 30 makes it quite easy to remove the damaged insert metal plate 30 and replace it with a new one.

[0047] From the foregoing description it can readily be understood that a new and improved golf cup liner is provided that is attractive, has good visibility, meets professional golf regulations, provides for adequate drainage, supports a flag stick in a vertical position, and keeps the soil surrounding the hole from collapsing inwardly. The invention provides a golf hole liner that best meets and extends these requirements through the use of a plurality of materials and interchangeable parts. 

1. A golf cup liner as defined including a cylindrical housing, a transverse member and a sleeve in which: the visible portion of the interior of the cylindrical housing is made from a pigmented plastic; a significant portion of the upper surface of the transverse member is made from a metal; the sleeve is made of metal and is positioned below the transverse member.
 2. A golf cup liner according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is supported by legs laterally extending from the sleeve to the housing.
 3. A golf cup liner according to claim 1 wherein the cylinder and the transverse member are made from a metal.
 4. A golf cup liner according to claim 2 wherein the visible portion of the interior of the cylinder is a pigmented plastic sleeve configured to fit within the cylindrical housing and seat against the transverse member.
 5. A golf cup liner according to claim 1 wherein the cylinder and the transverse member are made from a pigmented plastic.
 6. A golf cup liner according to claim 4 wherein metal plates are inserted in the upper surface of the transverse member.
 7. A golf cup liner according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve and its legs are removably mounted.
 8. A golf cup liner according to claim 6 wherein the sleeve and its legs are supported under a spring bias.
 9. A multi-part liner for a golf hole as described herein in which: that portion of the liner that is visible to a golfer is constructed of a plastic; that portion of the liner that supports the golf ball when the ball is putted into the liner is constructed of a metal; and that portion of the liner that supports the pin in an upright position is constructed of a metal.
 10. A liner according to claim 8 in which that portion of the liner that is visible to a golfer is constructed from a metal and a removable plastic insert.
 11. A liner according to claim 8 in which that portion of the liner that is visible to a golfer is made from a white plastic.
 12. A liner according to claim 8 in which that portion of the liner that supports the pin in an upright position is releasably attached to that portion of the liner that supports the golf ball when the ball is putted into the liner.
 13. A multi-part liner for a golf hole comprising: an interior component visible to a golfer when the golfer is near the liner; an interior transverse component adapted to support a golf ball when it is putted into the liner; a sleeve component depending from the transverse component adapted to support a pin in an upright position; the improvement comprising making the liner from a plurality of components which are removably mounted with respect to each other to permit a component to be removed and replaced when the component is worn or abused.
 14. The liner of claim 12 in which the interior component visible to a golfer is made from an opaque plastic.
 15. The liner of claim 12 wherein the components subject to wear are made from metal.
 16. The liner of claim 12 wherein the interior component visible to the golfer is made of a white plastic.
 17. The liner according to claim 12 wherein the interior component visible to the golfer is made of a transparent plastic. 